If you work in sport and you think this article doesn’t apply to you, you’re wrong. Every coach, sport psychologist, and other practitioner in the field has, had, and/or will have an LGBTQ+ athlete under your guidance and care. Whether they choose to be visible or not is entirely their business and it’s not your job to say otherwise. However, it is your job to ensure that the space you are providing to practice and participate in sport is built around an inclusive, safe, accessible, and empowering climate for all your athletes.
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Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) My recent article on the four the four pillars of athletic development talks about how building successful athletes and a team are rooted in the different skills and competencies of mental, physical, tactical, and technical conditioning within sport. During my time with the soccer team, as the team’s strength … Continue reading Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
Building Power for Endurance and Endurance for Power
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) At first glance, the title sounds contradictory, as any coach, athlete or experienced gym goer might know, power and endurance are not exactly synonymous with each other. In certain sports, most notably swimming which inspired this article, but also cycling, wrestling, gymnastics, speed skating, and rowing having power and … Continue reading Building Power for Endurance and Endurance for Power
Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
There are many “performance” sports in which the sport itself built upon the measure of success based on judgement from a panel of professionals with in depth knowledge of the sport and its rules. These sports, such as ice skating, gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing, and others often attract an audience who come to see the show … Continue reading Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
Las Vegas and Three Busses Full of Cheerleaders: Another Adventure with the Pride Cheerleading Association at the Sin City Classic
By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc., SDL (He/Him) Last year I shared about my experiences accompanying members of the Pride Cheerleading Association on the almighty #CheerBus as they traveled to different sports taking place during the Sin City Classic to raise money for the Golden Rainbow. Golden Rainbow is a charity organization that provides housing, education and … Continue reading Las Vegas and Three Busses Full of Cheerleaders: Another Adventure with the Pride Cheerleading Association at the Sin City Classic
Emotional Regulation Strategies for Endurance Sport Athletes
Endurance sports are some of the most challenging and brutal physical activities that humans can take part in. Yet, for these same reasons they also endure as one of the most popular challenges that people take on. From the elite level all the way to the beginner, endurance sports include events like marathon running, open … Continue reading Emotional Regulation Strategies for Endurance Sport Athletes
Strength Training for Top Surgery, Tips for Trans Men and Non-Binary People
For a lot of trans men, top surgery is recognized as one of the major guiding points in gender affirming care. During top surgery, the surgeon will remove the breasts, remove excess skin, and if necessary, reposition the nipples. For most trans men, this is a generally positive, life changing experience and goes a long way toward enhancing gender identity by adjusting appearance to fit more in line with a masculine gender identity. Chest-focused weight lifting can enhance the contour of your chest and improve your final results over time.
Participation. Inclusion. Personal Best? Four Considerations in Developing Athletes within Inclusive Sports
By Dirk Smith, MSc, CSCS, SDL (He/Him) The Gay Games are built upon three tenants, participation, inclusion and personal best. Inclusive grassroots sport has evolved from this established foundation and has made great strides in creating a sport space is built upon participation and inclusion but clubs and teams are often lacking in the athletic … Continue reading Participation. Inclusion. Personal Best? Four Considerations in Developing Athletes within Inclusive Sports
Exercise and Living with HIV/AIDS
By Dirk Smith, MSc, CSCS, SDL (He/Him) It’s no doubt that HIV/AIDS has had a huge impact on the LGBTI community; it has affected many people within our community. Today over 36.7 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and there have been many advancements in educational, prevention and treatment services offered that have turned the disease from … Continue reading Exercise and Living with HIV/AIDS
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